Torbay

Housing tenure in Torbay changed substantially between the last two censuses. Data from the census show there were changes in health.

The population passed 130,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Torbay increased by 1.0%, from just under 130,000 to 131,000.

The addition of almost 1,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Torbay was home to, on average, 15 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Change in unpaid care provision

This area saw England's third-largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

During this period, Torbay overtook 17 local authority areas, including Wirral and County Durham, to become the English local authority area with the fifth-highest percentage of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.6%) in Torbay reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.8% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.3% to 1.8%.

The largest increase occurred in East Lindsey (from 3.3% to 4.1%) followed by Rother (from 2.2% to 3.0%).

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Torbay remained close to 3.6%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Torbay by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The rate of self-employment increased in Torbay, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South West, except Isles of Scilly.

Across the South West, the proportion of self-employed people increased from 10.0% to 11% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in nearby South Hams increased from 15% to 17%.

In 2011, just over one in nine (11%) people aged 16 to 74 in Torbay said they were self-employed, compared with 11% in 2001. The percentage that were employed increased from 46% to 47%.

The rate of self-employment was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Fall in home ownership

The percentage of households that owner their home fell in Torbay at a faster rate than in South Hams.

In Torbay, the proportion of home ownership decreased from 73% in 2001 to 67% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in South Hams decreased from 75% to 72%.

Across the South West, the share of households that owner their home decreased from 72% to 67%.

Private renting in Torbay increased from 16% to 23%, while the rate of social housing remained close to 8.1%.

The rate of home ownership was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households that that owner their home across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Torbay residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 11% to 7.6% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (76%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 64% in 2001. The percentage of Torbay residents that described their health as fair decreased from 25% to 16%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Torbay decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Torbay, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Torbay working less than 16 hours increased from 2.2% to 3.3% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 11 (8.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 12% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.1% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Torbay increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Torbay, the South West and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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